immigrants globally. It hosts approximately one-fifth of the world’s immigrant population, with people coming from almost every nation.
The steady growth of employment in the United States benefits immigrants looking to move to the country. If you need information about the requirements for immigration, do not hesitate to contact USAFIS.
The Pew Research Center frequently conducts studies on immigration to the U.S. Based on these analyses, some important questions about the immigrant population in this country can be answered.
What is the number of immigrants in the United States?
In 2022, the number of foreign-born people in the United States reached a record 46.1 million. This growth accelerated after 1965 when Congress reformed the country’s immigration laws. In 1970, the number of immigrants in the U.S. was only one-quarter of the current figure. Immigrants now make up 13.8% of the total population, tripling the proportion of 1970, which was 4.7%. However, this figure is still below the historical peak of 1890, when immigrants represented 14.8% of the population.
Mexico is the leading country of origin for immigrants in the United States. In 2022, nearly 10.6 million immigrants in the country were born in Mexico, accounting for 23% of the total immigrant population. Other significant groups come from India (6%), China (5%), the Philippines (4%), and El Salvador (3%).
By region, 28% of immigrants are from Asia. Other percentages are distributed as follows:
- Latin America, including South America, Central America and the Caribbean, but excluding Mexico, with a total of 27%.
- Canada, other parts of North America and Europe make up 12%.
- Sub-Saharan Africa contributes 5%.
- North Africa and the Middle East together account for 4%.
Before 1965, U.S. immigration laws favored people from Northern and Western Europe and greatly restricted the entry of Asians. The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 marked a turning point, opening the doors to immigrants from Latin America and Asia. Later, the Immigration Act of 1990 increased the number of legal immigrants, allowing the entry of people from a wider variety of countries.
Job opportunities in the United States are abundant. If your intention is to move to this country, we suggest you contact the experts at USAFIS, who will provide you with detailed information on the requirements for immigration.